Alexander, Percy Norman

Lieutenant Colonel Percy Norman Alexander, MC, VD was born in Toronto on 8 May 1894, one of five sons of John Alexander and Harriet Cross. One of his brothers was Regimental Sergeant Major Gordon Ross Alexander, who died of illness in 1943 while posted in England during WWII. Percy attended Wellesley School from 1900 to 1908.

He joined The Queen’s Own Rifles as a rifleman in April 1911 and had progressed to Sergeant when the First World War broke out.

In September 1914 he joined the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force and

On 7 June 1924 he married Frances Louise Westren. They did not have any children.

Service Record:

10 Apr 1911 – Enlisted as a Rifleman with the QOR

31 Mar 1913 – Promoted Corporal

8 Oct 1913 – Promoted Sergeant

22 Sep 1914 – Enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a private with the 3rd Battalion.

30 Oct 1915 – Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the CEF

update war service

22 Jan 1919 – Discharged from CEF and returned to The Queen’s Own Rifles.

1 Oct 1920 – Promoted to Major

1923 – Appointed Second in Command of 1st Battalion

1927 – Awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal

19 Dec 1927 – Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion

1937 – Likely transferred to the Corps of Reserve Officers as the Reserve battalions seemed to have been amalgamated into the “Reserve Regimental Depot” by this time.

12 Jul 1940 – Transferred back to the 2nd Battalion (Non-Permanent Active Militia) as a Major in command of A Company

10 Mar 1941 – Took medical examination in order to join the Active Service Force (for WWII) but because of his WWI injuries, was categorized as B1 and appears to have continued with the 2nd Battalion (NPAM)

15 Nov 1942 – Transferred to the Corps Reserve of Officers with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel